Steering mechanism



Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,104

H. C, v.l PoLsEN STEERING MEGHANI'SM Filed July 2 1922 ttoznug H. l1 .v Paulsen Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

nari" s STEERING MECHANISM.

Application led J'uly 22, 1922.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, HERBERT C. V. POUL- sEN, a, citizen of the United States, residing at Walnut, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Steering Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in steering mechanisms, and more particularly to an lmprovement in the steering mechanism of tractors.

It is well known to those .familiar with the art when a tractor is employedin plowing there is a tendency of the steering wheels thereof to turn toward the furrows and in order to overcome this tendency it is necessary thatk the operator of the tractor maintain a steady strain upon the steering wheel. An important object of this invention is to relieve the strain from the drivers arms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will interfere but slightly `in the ordinary operation of the tractor, thereby eliminating the necessity of removing vthe same from the tractor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device yof this character which places a tension upon the steering mechanism tending to turn the steering wheels in a direction away from the furrow andin which the tension may be adjusted to the exact desired amount, thereby permitting the device to be employed alike for use in deep or shallow plowing.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is extremely simple in its construction and operation, may be readily attached to a tractor, and which is durable and dependable in service.

These and other objects I accomplish by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a tractor showing steering mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan Serial No. 576,765.

spindles bearing the steering arms of theV tractor, 11 the spindle arms which are connected by the connecting rod 12, 13 the steering` spindle stud towhich the forward end of the drag link 14 is connected, and 15 the usual oscillatory steering arm, all of which form a normal part of the steering mechanism of most formsof tractors.

Secured to the rear end of the spindle rod 11 at that side of the tractor'at which the steering arm 15 is disposed is a clamp 16 embodying an eye 17. In this eye is detach- .ably engaged one end of a flexible connecting member 18, the opposite end of which is engaged with one end of a swivel`19, the other end of the swivel being engaged with one end of a tension spring 20. A clamp 16a is engaged with the drag link 14 for the reception of the eye engaging end ofthe flexible member 18 when the device is not in use.

Mounted upon the steering arm is va clamping yoke 21 having an outstanding swiveled ear 22 which is provided with a threaded aperture 23 facing the forward end of lthe, tractor and theclamp 16. Through the threaded opening 23 `is directed a threaded rod 24, the rear lend of which is provided with an operating crank 25 and the forward end of which has swivel connection, as at 26, with a swivel 27 engaged with the opposite end of the spring 20. It will be seen that by rotating the rod 24 through medium of the crank 25 the tension of the spring 20 may be adjusted to suit the needs of the operator.

In the operation of the device, when the free end of the steering arm 15 to which the drag link 14 is connected moves rearwardly, the wheels of the tractor are shifted to turn the tractor tothe right or toward thevfurrow. This rearward movement of the arm will cause further tensioning of the spring 20, since the arm to which one end of the spring is connected moves rearwardly and the clamp attached to the spindle arm 11 moves forwardly and outwardly from 'the traitor. Duties ture te the left, the .merament of the steering arm is reversed and the tension of the spring is accordingly relaxed so that no interference is met during such a turn. The strain placed upon'the steering mechanism by the spring 2O may be adjusted to a desired degree where there is just rsuiiicient strain to compensate 'for the tendency of the wheels to turn to the right or toward the furrou7 and the necessity of the operator maintaining a constant strain upon the steering wheel to prevent such turning` movement is accordingly eliminated. By releasing Vthe tensionA of the spring which may be accomplished either through the adjustment of the rodV 24 in the threaded open.-

ing 23 or by disconnecting the iexible element 18 from the eye 17 and engaging it with the clamp 16a, the tractor may be employed in the usual manner when so desired, as for example, when the tractor is merely used for hauling or some other operation where the tendency of the wheels to turn in a given direction is eliminated. ln order to prevent the front wheels of the tractor from cutting or otherwise injuring the flexible element 18 during a turning movement of the tractor, l provide about this flexible element Y a metallic tubular protector sleeve 28, such as a smalllength of pipe or the like. rlhis sleeve will act as a roller rotating upon the flexible element and preventing` twisting ot the tieXible element to such a degree as would be liable to kink ork destroy the same as well as preventing the cutting of the flexible element.

From the foregoing it is believed to be obvious that a` steering vmechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adaptedv for the yuse `for which it is intended for the reason that it eliminates the necessity of the operator maintaining` a strain to prevent turning of the tractor and for the reason that it may be readily adjusted to compensate for .differ- Y ent strains or may be entirely released When so desired. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore illustrated is capable of some'change and modifica tion without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and l accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim l. In combination with a steering mechanism embodying'the usual steering spindles, rods connecting the arms or the spindles, drag link connected with one of the spindles,

yand a steering arm for operating the drag rod connecting the arms of theV spindles,

drag link connected with one ,of the spindles, and a steering arm for operating the drag` link, of means connectingy a spindle arm and the steering arm for placing an adjustable tension upon the steering mechanism tending to turn'the wheels thereof in one direction, including a spring connected at one end with saidconnecting rod, a.r yoke clamped vupon saidl steering arm` andernbodying a swiveledea'r'having a threaded aperture, a threaded'rod directed through said aperture and swivel connected at one end with the spr-ing vand provided at the opposite end with a Icrank whereby it may be rotated. Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my signature.

HERBERT c. v.l Pennen-N. 

